Dear scientists,
it is a pleasure to wish you a good beginning of the year and some fruitful research these coming months. The year started very well here in the Chobe Enclave with the visits of a group of Swiss, St Africans and Botswanan PhD students studying the hydrogeology in the greater area of the Chobe and the Caprivi Strip. This group will be followed by some colleagues of the department of biology from the Botswana International University for Science and Technology.
Our aim this year is to broaden our reserch perspectives and enlarge our scope on the conservation side. Indeed, there is a lot do in the district in terms of collecting data and ensuring a wider protection for the wildlife. In this context, the on-going monitoring of a serie of factors provides valuable input to better understand the complexity of the interactions and their overall impact on the landscape and its inhabitants.
What we have been lacking these past years at our center are researchers focusing more on the human side of things, i.e. the recent evolution, the development, and the relationship of the local population of the Enclave with its wildlife, the ecological constraints, and the economic potential. We encourage any scientists interested to investigate these issues to contact us to discuss more in detail these topics. In the same research domain but slightly more related to the past, it would be very pertinent and productive to welcome archeologist and paleoanthropologist in this area, as in the past many digs took place in the south and the north of this region but very little investigation was done in this territory which is key in understanding human kind expansion as it is connected to St Africa and the African rift system by large water bodies.
Finally, on a broader scale, we the VTR managers, are always open to discuss any field work proposal emanated from scientific institutions interested to use our center as a base for more in-depth research in the area. We are always happy and open to endeavouring ideas and visionary proposals related to research.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Sincerely
Dr. Van Thuyne